Parks and recreation officials have scrambled for more than a week to get the temporary pond prepared. They started filling the area with water Jan. 4, but some of it seeped away before enough of its surface could freeze.

That left a half-inch-thick layer of ice atop a thin pocket of air. Crews had to open the spigots again to fill the void, then wait for Mr. Freeze to work his magic.

Today, DeVictor said, the rink is ready. At least for now.

Forecasts call for temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s today through the weekend.

"Now we think it's safe enough for people to use it, but the weather's been up and down," he said.